Although Manatee County is no longer in a Tropical Storm Warning or Watch area, emergency management officials say the area will experience strong wind, rain and storm surge this week.
During a media briefing held Monday, Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said Manatee County’s barrier islands would be the most vulnerable to flooding later in the week.
"Eta is a wide storm that is going to meander out in the Gulf," Saur said. "As it slowly approaches landfall later this week, we could see localized flooding and strong wind gusts. As it makes its slow turn north to Florida, that messy (northeast) quadrant of the storm will impact our barrier islands and low lying areas. Everyone should clear items from lawns, patios and lanais that could be blown away."
Saur and Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer will deliver their next Eta update on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. during the Board of County Commissioners meeting.
